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Creator
Bendiner, Alfred
Call number
*T-Vim 1994-018
Physical description
1.6 lin. ft. (1 oversized box).
Preferred Citation

Alfred Bendiner Caricatures and Related Papers, *T-Vim 1994-018, Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

Repository
Billy Rose Theatre Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.Restrictions apply

Architect, artist and author of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Alfred Bendiner (1899-1964) drew caricatures of concerts, the theater and other subjects for the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin and other periodicals.

Biographical/historical information

Architect, artist and author, Alfred Bendiner lived all his life in Pennsylvania, but travelled extensively gathering material for his widely published drawings. He was born in 1899 in Pittsburgh to a Hungarian family that soon moved to Philadelphia. After service in World War I, he earned a bachelors degree in 1922 and a masters of architecture in 1927 from the University of Pennsylvania while working as a draftsman for the architect, Paul P. Cret. He then joined the architectural firm of Habeson, Hough, Livingston, and Larsen in Philadelphia, and, in 1929, opened his own office. In the 1930s he began contributing gently satirical caricatures and scenes to many periodicals including The Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, The Philadelphia Record, and The Washington Times-Herald. He also wrote articles for The Atlantic Monthly, the University of Pennsylvania Gazette, and other periodicals and authored a slightly irreverent column for The Journal of the American Institute of Architectsentitled "Life in a Martini Glass." He was also a staff artist on two University of Pennsylvania archaeological expeditions: Iraq in 1936 and Guatemala in 1960.

Alfred Bendiner drew constantly and always had his miniature paint box, brush and tiny bottle of water tucked in his vest pocket. At times he painted on menus and napkins, and if he ran out of water, it is said, he used wine, coffee, or even his own saliva.

Bendiner was a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and president of the Philadelphia chapter in 1952. He died in 1964 and was posthumously elected an associate member of the National Academy of Design. His work has been exhibited in many one-man and group shows and is in the collections of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the Library of Congress, the Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris and the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy. Some of his caricatures of concerts and the theater for The Philadelphia Evening Bulletin were published, along with his comments, in his book, Music to My Eyes.

Scope and arrangement

The collection consists of 14 original drawings, 12 prints, 1 lithograph, and a few photocopies of Bendiner's caricatures of performing artists. The drawings are almost all undated, but research indicates they are primarily scenes from theatrical productions staged in Philadelphia in the early 1940s. Some of the drawings have pencil notations that are instructions for newspaper layouts. Almost all are signed with Bendiner's name and characteristic eyebrows and nose symbol. Actors depicted include Ethel Barrymore, Hume Cronyn, Helen Hayes, and Paul Muni.

The collection also contains photocopies of letters of thanks to his wife Elizabeth from libraries and museums for gifts of his drawings after his death, articles on the same subject, a single personal letter to the Bendiners, and programs and press releases for exhibits (1954-1990) of Bendiner's work.

The Alfred Bendiner caricatures and related papers are arranged in three series:

  • Drawings
    1944 and n.d.
    3 folders

    Drawings are ink or pencil on linen covered board, up to 11 in. by 14 in. One drawing illustrates use of the Benday process and ink. They are mostly scenes from plays and depict at least two characters.

  • Prints
    1945 and n.d.
    4 folders

    Prints are on light board, most ca. 7 in. x 7 in. They are mostly of a single person not depicted in a particular play. Also contains a few photocopies of Bendiner's drawings.

  • Other Papers
    1954-1992 and n.d.
    4 folders

    This series contains publicity for exhibits of Bendiner's work, 1954-1990, letters and articles concerning posthumous gifts of his work, and one letter, 1963, to the Bendiners. It consists almost entirely of photocopies.

Administrative information

Custodial history

The Alfred Bendiner Caricatures were donated to The Billy Rose Theatre Division of the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts by the Alfred Bendiner Foundation in August 1994.

Source of acquisition

drawings:

Processing information

Processed by Elisabeth Elkind.

Using the collection

Location

Billy Rose Theatre Division
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
40 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023-7498
Third Floor

Conditions Governing Use

For permission to publish, contact the Curator, Billy Rose Theatre Division.

Access restrictions

Photocopying prohibited.